Tag Archives: loss aversion

[Tyre’s] merchandise and profits will be dedicated to Adonai; they will not be stored up or hoarded…

Observation: This chapter was a prediction of destruction for Tyre, a major crossroads and port, for the usual pride and rebellion. God promises at the end that Tyre will be restored as a prosperous port city, but it will be dedicated to the Lord instead of only thinking about itself.

There’s always an inclination to hoard what we have, whether it’s time or energy or money or art supplies. Seeing the pile of surplus makes us feel safer. But we aren’t safer: none of these things are likely to stick around if we just try to hang onto them, and God was the one keeping us safe in the first place.

I mention art supplies because I do this all the time. I never want to use the last bit of a paint or pretty paper, because what if I never get it again? What if I waste it? What if I ruin it? It’s just paint, but you wouldn’t know it from the tizzy my brain gets into. When I did art swapping and people would include cool little cards and papers and buttons as “extras” to use in future artworks, I had to throw them out right away or I would be miserable. Because there was only one of each thing, so I could never use any of them. Never. I might make something ugly, after all, and then they’d be wasted. I think I still have a drawer of stuff I collected and couldn’t use before I realized it was a problem and started pitching them or passing them on in the next swap.

This isn’t a healthy mindset, but I know I’m not alone in it. We keep things. In fact, studies show that losing something makes us 2.5 times sadder than getting it made us happy in the first place. It’s called loss aversion. It’s crazy, but humans are crazy.

And here God shows us the way out: dedicate what we have to God. If it’s His stuff, we don’t have to worry about wasting it. He’ll help us manage it wisely. And if it’s His stuff, we don’t need to worry about running out. He’s got plenty more. Living without fear means not hoarding what we have.

Application: Dedicate what you have to God. Let Him take care of you.

Prayer: Father, I praise you for being the Source of Sources, abundantly able to provide whatever I need. Thank you for giving me everything I need and plenty of things that I want. Help me to treat the things I have as yours, so that I can share them and invest them freely. Amen.